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Meloetyphlus Waterhouse is a monotypic genus of Meloidae ascribed to the tribe Tetraonycini, subfamily Meloinae. As for most blister beetles, its first-instar larvae (or triungulins) are parasites of bees, but M. fuscatus Waterhouse is the only species known to parasitize members of the tribe Euglossini (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apinae). Despite being widely distributed in Central and South America, its presence in Colombia has never been confirmed. In this article, we document the occurrence of this genus in Colombia providing the first certain record for this country. In addition, some aspects of its parasitization of Eulaema nigrita Lepeletier are reported and illustrated with macrophotographs and a video. By the means of drawings and SEM micrographs, we provide the most detailed description of the first-instar larva of M. fuscatus to date and a comparison with the triungulin of the closely related Tetraonyx fulvus (LeConte). Finally, we investigated the phylogenetic position of Meloetyphlus using molecular data, to support its attribution to the tribe Tetraonycini. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an updated list of 532 vascular plant species distributed in 375 genera and 110 families on the islands of San Andres and Old Providence, Colombia, based on a compilation of published literature and some additional observations. The following nine plant species are new plant records for the islands: Cycas circinalis L. (Cycadaceae), Clerodendrum trichotonum Wall., Mentha viridis (L.) L., Ocimum americanum L. var. americanum, O. basilicum var. purpurascens Benth., O. campechianum Mill. (Lamiaceae), Pandanus sp. (Pandanaceae), Duranta repens L. and Lantana involucrata L. (Verbenaceae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide objective criteria for assessing the taxonomic status of genera, especially those that are monotypic, using the coccid genus Taiwansaissetia Tao, Wong & Chang. This genus contains only the type species, Lecanium formicarii Green [currently Taiwansaissetia formicarii (Green)], known from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions. Here, Taiwansaissetia is synonymised ( syn.nov.) with Coccus Linnaeus (Hemiptera: Coccidae) on the basis of phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data and morphological examination. All analyses (maximum parsimony, neighbour-joining and Bayesian inference) of four gene regions ( 18S, 28S, COI and EF-1α), and a concatenation of these regions, placed the clade including T. formicarii and three unidentified Coccus specimens as sister to the type species of Coccus, C. hesperidum Linnaeus, with high support. Taiwansaissetia formicarii is more closely related to C. hesperidum than C. hesperidum is to C. viridis (Green), which is considered to be a 'typical' species of Coccus, and several other current members of Coccus [ C. longulus (Douglas), C. penangensis Morrison and C. pseudomagnoliarum (Kuwana)]. Explicit criteria, including monophyly, diagnosability, sister taxa being of equal rank, and the level of genetic divergence between T. formicarii and C. hesperidum relative to within-genus divergence of other scale insects, were used to assess the taxonomic status of Taiwansaissetia. The autapomorphic features of Taiwansaissetia that differentiate it from typical species of Coccus might be due to its myrmecophilous habit and adaptation to living inside ant nests - most other species of Coccus live externally on their host plants. Since its description in 1896, T. formicarii has been placed in four different genera: here we transfer it back to Coccus as C. formicarii (Green) stat.rev. We rediagnose the genus Coccus to accommodate the features of C. formicarii. This study also found that Coccus might not be monophyletic, warranting further study of the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), one of the most serious pests of cassava worldwide, has recently reached Asia, raising significant concern over its potential spread throughout the region. To support management decisions, this article reports recent distribution records, and estimates the climatic suitability for its regional spread using a CLIMEX distribution model. The article also presents a taxonomic key that separates P. manihoti from all other mealybug species associated with the genus Manihot. Model predictions suggest P. manihoti imposes an important, yet differential, threat to cassava production in Asia. Predicted risk is most acute in the southern end of Karnataka in India, the eastern end of the Ninh Thuan province in Vietnam, and in most of West Timor in Indonesia. The model also suggests P. manihoti is likely to be limited by cold stress across Vietnam's northern regions and in the entire Guangxi province in China, and by high rainfall across the wet tropics in Indonesia and the Philippines. Predictions should be particularly important to guide management decisions for high risk areas where P. manihoti is absent (e.g., India), or where it has established but populations remain small and localized (e.g., South Vietnam). Results from this article should help decision-makers assess site-specific risk of invasion, and develop proportional prevention and surveillance programs for early detection and rapid response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monophlebid scale insect Icerya aegyptiaca is reported for the first time in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, where it was found in four islands: Kurima Island, Kuro Island, Miyako Island and Yonaguni Island. Icerya aegyptiaca was collected from 36 plant species belonging to 23 families. Information on the distribution and natural enemies of I. aegyptiaca and a key to separate known species of Icerya occurring in Japan are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new soft scale insect, Bombacoccus aguacatae Kondo, gen. n. and sp. n. (Hemiptera: Coccidae) collected on the branches and twigs of avocado, Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae) in Colombia, is described and illustrated based on the adult female. An updated taxonomic key to closely related genera of the Toumeyella-group is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Etiennea Matile-Ferrero is synonymized with Hemilecanium Newstead (Hemiptera: Coccidae). We base this decision on a morphological comparative study of adult females, adult males and first-instar nymphs (crawlers), including a phylogenetic analysis. We recovered a sister group relationship between the type species of the two genera, Etiennea villiersi Matile-Ferrero and Hemilecanium theobromae Newstead; that is, each was more closely related to the other than either was to other species in their respective genera. All species hitherto included in Etiennea are transferred to Hemilecanium: H. bursera (Hodgson & Kondo) comb. nov., H. cacao (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. candelabra (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. capensis (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. carpenteri (Newstead) comb. nov., H. cephalomeatus (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. combreti (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. ferina (De Lotto) comb. nov., H. ferox (Newstead) comb. nov., H. gouligouli (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. halli (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. kellyi (Brain) comb. nov., H. madagascariensis (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. montrichardiae (Newstead) comb. nov., H. multituberculum (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. petasus (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. sinetuberculum (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. tafoensis (Hodgson) comb. nov., H. ulcusculum (Hodgson) comb. nov., and H. villiersi (Matile-Ferrero) comb. nov. Keys to the adult females of all 26 species and known adult males and first-instar nymphs are provided. The adult males and first-instar nymphs of H. theobromae Newstead and E. villiersi Matile-Ferrero are for the first time fully described and illustrated. One new potential pest species of Hemilecanium, H. uesatoi Kondo & Hardy sp. nov., which was collected on three islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, is described and illustrated based on the adult female, adult male and first-instar nymph. We discuss evidence that H. uesatoi is a new introduction to the Ryukyu Archipelago. The first-instar nymphs of Hemilecanium can be divided into two distinct morphological groups, the petasus group and the theobromae group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Two new species of Brazilian mealybugs, Plotococcus capixaba Kondo sp. n. and Plotococcus hambletoni Kondo sp. n. (Pseudococcidae), are described and illustrated. Plotococcus capixaba is a newly recognized pest from the leaves of the jaboticaba tree, Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) O. Berg (Myrtaceae), from Espírito Santo and from Leandra erinacea Cogn. (Melastomataceae) from São Paulo. Plotococcus hambletoni was collected in São Paulo on a myrtaceous plant. A revised key to the species of Plotococcus Miller & Denno, and a key to the different growth stages of P. capixaba are provided. All female instars are described for P. capixaba , but only the adult female is known for P. hambletoni . The biology of Plotococcus is discussed, with emphasis on P. capixaba . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genusXenolecaniumTakahashi is reviewed and transferred from the subfamily Myzolecaniinae to the Coccinae (tribe Paralecaniini). The type speciesXenolecanium mangiferaeTakahashi is redescribed, andXenolecanium takahashiiKondo sp. nov. from Indonesia is described based on the adult female and first instar nymph. A taxonomic key is provided to separate adult females of the two species ofXenolecanium.Xenolecanium rotundumTakahashi is transferred to become the type species of a new monotypic genus,TakahashilecaniumKondo, which is also placed in the Paralecaniini. The morphological justification for placingXenolecaniumandTakahashilecaniumin the Paralecaniini is discussed, and we provide a taxonomic key for separating both genera from all other members of the Paralecaniini. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corn leaf aphid is considered an important pest associated with maize. This study aimed to discover the trophic associations around Rhopalosiphum maidis in Manabí, Ecuador. Maize leaves were sampled to determine the numbers of parasitized aphids, and the identities of predators and parasitoids. Nine taxa of natural enemies were detected: the primary parasitoid was Lysiphlebus testaceipes Cresson, 1880 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae); the hyperparasitoid Syrphophagus aphidivorus (Mayr, 1876) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae); the predatory hoverfly Ocyptamus dimidiatus (Fabricius, 1781) (Diptera: Syrphidae), four species of coccinellids, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1781), Cycloneda sanguinea (Linnaeus, 1763), Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville, 1842 and Paraneda pallidula guticollis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and an assassin bug, Zelus sp. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). A parasitoid, Pachyneuron formosum Walker, 1833 (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) emerged from hoverfly pupae. This study reports the presence of the parasitoids S. aphidivorus and P. formosum in Ecuador for the first time. These results increase the knowledge of a four-trophic level relationship (host plant – pest – parasitoids, predators – hyperparasitoids) in a maize agroecosystem as a fundamental basis for biological control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The guava cottony scale, Capulinia linarosae Kondo & Gullan (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae), is an important pest of guava, Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) in northern Colombia and Venezuela. A species of Metaphycus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is the only known primary parasitoid associated with this insect pest. The parasitoid is herein described as M. marensis Chirinos & Kondo, sp. nov., based on morphological characteristics of the adult female and male. Biological studies on adult longevity, fecundity, host preference, and sex ratio were conducted. The maximum longevity of the female and the male were 8.0 and 6.5 days, respectively, when fed with diluted honey. On average, a fed mated female laid approximately 40 eggs. Adult females of M. marensis were shown to prefer to parasitize 11- to 15-day-old adult females of C. linarosae and do not parasitize first-instar nymphs of the host eriococcid. The female-to-male sex ratio of the parasitoid was 2.24: 1. When ovipositing females of M. marensis were given only small-sized individuals (second-instar nymphs) of C. linarosae, generally the resulting progeny was a single male wasp. This parasitoid species has arrhenotokous reproduction and is a facultative gregarious parasitoid. These results show a short adult longevity, as well as a relatively low fecundity of the female compared with studies conducted on other Metaphycus species. This study provides essential baseline information for future biological control programmes for C. linarosae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new neotropical genus and species of soft scale insect from Cuba, Hamonicoccus Mestre and Kondo gen. nov. is described and Hamonicoccus alayoi Mestre and Kondo sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) is described and illustrated based on the adult female. The species was collected in Cayos de las Cinco Leguas, Matanzas Province, on Capparis cynophallophora (Capparaceae), and in Surgidero de Batabanó, Mayabeque Province, on Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae). The affinities of H alayoi sp. nov. with closely related species is discussed based on published literature. An updated list of soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccidae) known from Cuba is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The obscure mealybug Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is recorded for the first time from Colombia based on specimens collected on Opuntia cylindrica (Lam.) DC., Mammillaria sp. (Cactaceae), Escallonia paniculata (Ruiz & Pav.), Roem. & Schult. (Escalloniaceae), Ficus carica L. (Moraceae), Coffea arabica L. (Rubiaceae), Citrus sp. (Rutaceae), Cestrum nocturnum L. and Solanum betaceum Cavanilles (Solanaceae). Multiple methods were used to identify P. viburni because it belongs to the "Pseudococcus maritimus" complex, a group composed of more than 60 species with high variation in morphological characteristics. The specimens were identified based on the morphology and morphometric analysis of third‐instar nymphs and adult females. This morphological identification was corroborated by data on geographical distribution, plant hosts and a molecular identification using two different loci, CO1 (mtDNA) and the 28S ribosomal gene (nuclear genome). An updated list of species of Pseudococcus Westwood recorded from Colombia and information on morphological variation found in the studied specimens from Brazil and Colombia are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asexual lineages provide a challenge to species delimitation because species concepts either have little biological meaning for them or are arbitrary, since every individual is monophyletic and reproductively isolated from all other individuals. However, recognition and naming of asexual species is important to conservation and economic applications. Some scale insects are widespread and polyphagous pests of plants, and several species have been found to comprise cryptic species complexes. Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner, 1861) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is a parthenogenetic, cosmopolitan and polyphagous pest that feeds on plant species from more than 80 families. Here, we implement multiple approaches to assess the species status of P. nigra, including coalescence-based analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, and ecological niche modelling. Our results indicate that the sampled specimens of P. nigra should be considered to comprise at least two ecotypes (or "species") that are ecologically differentiated, particularly in relation to temperature and moisture. The presence of more than one ecotype under the current concept of P. nigra has implications for biosecurity because the geographic extent of each type is not fully known: some countries may currently have only one of the biotypes. Introduction of additional lineages could expand the geographic extent of damage by the pest in some countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.), which is considered an important cereal everywhere, is widely cultivated in different agroecological conditions. Throughout their phenological stages, maize crops are attacked by pests and diseases, and in Ecuador these phytosanitary problems are usually counteracted with applications of pesticides. However, knowledge of beneficial entomofauna is fundamental to guide pest management programs. As part of this objective, the Coccinellidae species present in maize fields in localities (Santa Ana, Colon, and Danzarin) in Manabí province were identified. In each zone, maize plants were sampled from 2018–2019. A total of 2,654 specimens belonging to 14 taxa were collected in this study, of which Cheilomenes sexmaculata, Cycloneda sanguinea, Hippodamia convergens, Hyperaspis arida, and Psyllobora confluens were found in all the studied areas. Hyperaspis arida and Diomus apollonia are reported for the first time in Ecuador. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The insect vector of Huanglongbing, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, 1908 (Hemiptera: Lividae) was detected in Ecuador in 2013 and its main parasitoid Tamarixia radiata (Waterston, 1922) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was reported for the first time in 2017. In the citrus production region of Manabí province, Ecuador, D. citri and T. radiata were reported for the first time on Murraya paniculata L. in 2016 and 2018, respectively. D. citri was first found infesting Citrus x aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle in Manabí province at the end of 2018. The present study was conducted between August 2018 and May 2021 to: (1) monitor D. citri populations on M. paniculata and C. x aurantiifolia and determine the parasitism rates of T. radiata on D. citri nymphs on both host plants, (2) establish the occurrence of T. radiata parasitizing D. citri on C. x aurantiifolia, and (3) calculate a predictive model for estimating the number of parasitized nymphs on a planting lot of M. paniculata and a C. aurantiifolia orchard. Results: Diaphorina citri populations on M. paniculata decreased from 11 nymphs (2018–2019) to approximately 2 nymphs per flush (2020). This was associated with a natural increase in parasitism rates of T. radiata from 20% (2018) to 96% in 2020. The regression equation (Y = 2.049Ln (x) + 5.88) was able to estimate the number of parasitized D. citri nymphs based on parasitism on M. paniculata (R2: 0.8315). Tamarixia radiata was first detected on C. x aurantiifolia in July 2020. Populations of D. citri reached 55 nymphs per flush (no parasitism) and subsequently decreased to the minimum level of 14 nymphs per flush (parasitism rates of up to 31%). The model allowed estimating the number of parasitized nymphs by T. radiata on M. paniculata and C. x aurantiifolia, with a maximum deviation of approximately 2 nymphs. Conclusions: Based on the colonization and establishment of the psyllid–parasitoid interaction on M. paniculata, it is estimated that approximately by the end of 2022, populations of D. citri on C. x aurantiifolia would decline due to the highest percentages of parasitism by T. radiata. High parasitism rates may indicate the potential of T. radiata in conservation biological control and integrated pest management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is the main vector of the bacteria that causes Huanglongbing (HLB), the most destructive disease of Citrus. The presence of D. citri was reported in Ecuador in 2013 on branches of citrus, Citrus spp., and orange jessamine, Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack (Rutaceae), but HLB has not been detected so far in this country. This paper reports for the first time the presence of two important natural enemies of D. citri in Ecuador, i.e., its main parasitoid Tamarixia radiata (Waterston, 1922) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and the adventitious ladybird beetle Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1781) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) attacking psyllid nymphs on M. paniculata, in Guayaquil, Guayas province, Ecuador. A short diagnosis of the two natural enemies and their distribution in the New World is presented based on published literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutualistic interactions between ants and Hemiptera are mediated to a large extent by the amount and quality of sugar-rich honeydew produced. Throughout the neotropics, the predaceous fire ant Solenopsis geminata ( Fabricius) ( Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is found in association with colonies of the pineapple mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes ( Cockerell) ( Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), which they actively tend and protect from attack by natural enemies. In this study, we evaluate the effects of access to a sucrose solution on the mutualistic association between S. geminata and D. brevipes. Ten colonies of either species were established, with D. brevipes maintained on pumpkin, Cucurbita maxima Duchesne ( Cucurbitaceae), in screen cages. Five of the S. geminata colonies were permitted access to vials with 20% sucrose solution and a pumpkin with 20 adult mealybugs. The remaining ant colonies were allowed access to mealybug-infested pumpkins. Ant colonies with access to the sucrose solution attended mealybugs significantly less than those without additional sugar sources. Mealybug survival rates were similar under both treatments. Total body sugars and fructose were nearly twice as high in ants with access to honeydew and sucrose vs. those with access to honeydew and water. Fructose accumulated on the pumpkins over time in both treatments, suggesting that honeydew was not fully exploited by the ants. In conclusion, D. brevipes enjoy lower degrees of ant attendance when S. geminata have alternative sources of carbohydrates. We further discuss the significance of these findings for the conservation of predaceous ants and mealybug biological control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-one isolates of Trichoderma spp. were collected from eight states in Colombia and characterized based on the 5′ end of the translation elongation factor-1α (EF1-α1) gene and RNA polymerase II gene encoding the second largest protein subunit (RPB2) by using mixed primers. Seven species of soil-dwelling Trichoderma were found: T. atroviride, T. koningiopsis, T. asperellum, T. spirale, T. harzianum, T. brevicompactum and T. longibrachiatum. Species identifications based on the EF1-α1 gene were consistent with those obtained from the RPB2 gene. Phylogenetic analyses with high bootstrap values supported the validity of the identification of all isolates. These results suggest that using the combination of the genes EF1-α1 and RPB2 is highly reliable for molecular characterization of Trichoderma species. Trichoderma asperellum Th034, T. atroviride Th002 and T. harzianum Th203 prevented germination of more than 70 % of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in bioassay tests and are promising biological control agents. No relationship between mycelium growth rate and parasitism level was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]